Four Uber drivers are facing charges related to kidnapping and attempted sexual assault on passengers in a series of alarming incidents. Three of the accused individuals, namely Barney Flores, aged 35, Cesar Martell, aged 32, and Janake Manatunga, aged 57, are scheduled to appear in a Houston, Texas court on federal charges. Meanwhile, a fourth driver, Abdou Mbacke, aged 42, has fled the country to avoid prosecution.
Mbacke is accused of an incident where a woman alleged that she blacked out in his taxi and woke up undressed in a motel room next to him. The FBI suspects there may be additional victims and is encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
In a separate case from December 2023, Mbacke allegedly diverted a 22-year-old passenger to a motel after she became intoxicated in his vehicle. The passenger recounted waking up next to Mbacke and promptly questioning him before he abruptly left the scene. Uber deactivated Mbacke’s account following the woman’s report, and he subsequently left the U.S. on a one-way flight in July of the following year.
Janaka Manatunga is accused of trying to sexually assault an inebriated female passenger by trapping her in his car. Uber terminated Manatunga’s contract after being notified of the incident.
Cesar Martell was arrested in January 2024 after DNA evidence linked him to a 2021 assault. Several female passengers came forward, leading to Martell facing multiple charges of kidnapping and sexual assault. In a June 2021 incident, Martell allegedly drove a woman to a gas station where he attempted to assault her before she managed to escape. In another incident in May 2023, he allegedly instructed a victim to book a ride outside the Uber app to avoid detection and subsequently kidnapped and assaulted her.
Uber took swift action upon learning of Martell’s allegations, removing him from their platform and contacting law enforcement.
Barney Flores is accused of locking a passenger in his car and attempting to assault her, with the passenger eventually escaping and reporting the incident to the police.
During a press conference, FBI Houston Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen issued a warning to ride-hailing drivers that criminal behavior against passengers would result in imprisonment. He announced Operation Lighthouse, a new initiative aimed at combating sexual assaults on rideshare passengers, emphasizing the commitment to apprehend and prosecute offenders.
In response to the Houston allegations, an Uber spokesperson expressed condemnation for the crimes of sexual assault and kidnapping and emphasized the company’s commitment to safety, including the immediate removal of drivers involved in such incidents and collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
